Have you seen the Lady Pharaoh? The main theme of Women: Theory and Practice is that a discrepancy exists between the way women are rumored to function and the way in which they actually do. The hype surrounding females has grown to bizarre proportions, yet it is totally divergent with their actual ability, achievement, and potential. Our culture has wrongly declared them to be intellectually, morally, and emotionally superior to men. The shine with which women have been burnished is totally synthetic. One cannot help but wonder if their champions believe them to be superheroes in human garb. Indeed, if one only listened to the mainstream media and the speech of our politicians they would come away with the belief that women excel at every task and that there is nothing in this world that they cannot do. The last few sentences would qualify me as a chauvinist in the eyes of our cultural magnates, but such a slur would be unfounded. Only in a public square corrupted by Wonderland logic could someone be slandered as chauvinist for stating that women are no better than men. I have been careful not to imply that men are superior to women, and the reasons for my doing so is that I do not believe that they are.
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About the Author
Bernard Chapin is a Chicago writer and school psychologist whose work addresses politics, culture, and the relations between the sexes. He is the author of Escape from Gangsta Island: A School’s Progressive Decline.
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42 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Women: Theory and Practice" is Bernard Chapin's third work [see our review of his excellent second work, "Escape From Gangsta Island - A School's Progressive Decline" - http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=gangsta41006.htm]. The book has been long-awaited by the many fans of Chapin's numerous previous columns detailing his views on sexual politics.
Among other things, Chapin is a culture warrior whose observations carry a sense of precision often lacking in other authors who write within that genre. That is perhaps because of his training as a psychologist, but it might just be that he is extraordinarily acute and perceptive.
His current work, as the title suggests is about how the women's revolution especially the radical feminist movement, which has and continues to poison the relationship between men and women. He does this on two levels, one theoretical, in which the intellectual underpinnings of what feminism has come to represent are dissected and then skewered, and the second experiential, illustrating how women constructed along these lines function within a culture that has become outwardly at least, female-centric.
The author carefully demonstrates that the changes that women have undergone, mirror similar changes in society in general, tracing both back to the generational tumult of the 1960s.
Starting with the chapter, "The Fairer Sex" Chapin describes the process whereby women have been transformed into a mythical construct not supportable by either reason or biology, calling it "genitalia mongering," a marketing program which has resulted in non-authentic gender roles and consequently a prodigious amount of misery for both men and women.
Chapin treads on some of the same ground that Roger Kimball has explored, and here I am thinking of his, "Rape of the Masters," however what Mr. Chapin brings to the mix is his ability to merge the real world with the theoretical in a way that aids understanding in a very clear manner.
The author is a realist, to him what is...is, so he is comfortable explaining such things as the biological reason why men are hard-wired to prefer younger women, the reason being that the urge corresponds with the seeking of "fertility and reproductive potential."
Insights such as this are refreshing and replete in "Women," especially useful given our mad rush towards permanent feminization and role confusion rather than reality-based gender identifications which accept that men and women are vastly different, but complementary nonetheless.
Of particular significance Chapin writes in the chapter, "Let's not make a deal," part of which provides a symbolic representation of feminist dynamics, that "Women today have far greater expectations than their predecessors had. When this is juxtaposed with the essential an unchanged nature of man it result in frustration because the romantic desires of individual women cannot, by definition, be met."
It is clear from such perceptive analysis that ideologically based conceptions of gender are fraudulent and lead to unhappiness. Not only that, but it can be extrapolated from that logic that similar types of regimentation imposed and not organically derived - encompassing many of the 19th and 20th century "isms" - results in similar wreckage.
If there is anything non-rigorous in Chapin's thesis at all it concerns his possibly underestimating the power whereby male biology becomes manifest marital destiny regardless of the carnage feminism has created, hence the suggestion that logic be employed in determining whether or not to marry might therefore suggest an alternative more imagined than attainable.
What recommends "Women: Theory and Practice" is the authors relentlessly applied analytical skill and his considerable ability to extrapolate real world examples as illustration. As a result it is both a speedy and thought provoking read.
Among other things, Chapin is a culture warrior whose observations carry a sense of precision often lacking in other authors who write within that genre. That is perhaps because of his training as a psychologist, but it might just be that he is extraordinarily acute and perceptive.
His current work, as the title suggests is about how the women's revolution especially the radical feminist movement, which has and continues to poison the relationship between men and women. He does this on two levels, one theoretical, in which the intellectual underpinnings of what feminism has come to represent are dissected and then skewered, and the second experiential, illustrating how women constructed along these lines function within a culture that has become outwardly at least, female-centric.
The author carefully demonstrates that the changes that women have undergone, mirror similar changes in society in general, tracing both back to the generational tumult of the 1960s.
Starting with the chapter, "The Fairer Sex" Chapin describes the process whereby women have been transformed into a mythical construct not supportable by either reason or biology, calling it "genitalia mongering," a marketing program which has resulted in non-authentic gender roles and consequently a prodigious amount of misery for both men and women.
Chapin treads on some of the same ground that Roger Kimball has explored, and here I am thinking of his, "Rape of the Masters," however what Mr. Chapin brings to the mix is his ability to merge the real world with the theoretical in a way that aids understanding in a very clear manner.
The author is a realist, to him what is...is, so he is comfortable explaining such things as the biological reason why men are hard-wired to prefer younger women, the reason being that the urge corresponds with the seeking of "fertility and reproductive potential."
Insights such as this are refreshing and replete in "Women," especially useful given our mad rush towards permanent feminization and role confusion rather than reality-based gender identifications which accept that men and women are vastly different, but complementary nonetheless.
Of particular significance Chapin writes in the chapter, "Let's not make a deal," part of which provides a symbolic representation of feminist dynamics, that "Women today have far greater expectations than their predecessors had. When this is juxtaposed with the essential an unchanged nature of man it result in frustration because the romantic desires of individual women cannot, by definition, be met."
It is clear from such perceptive analysis that ideologically based conceptions of gender are fraudulent and lead to unhappiness. Not only that, but it can be extrapolated from that logic that similar types of regimentation imposed and not organically derived - encompassing many of the 19th and 20th century "isms" - results in similar wreckage.
If there is anything non-rigorous in Chapin's thesis at all it concerns his possibly underestimating the power whereby male biology becomes manifest marital destiny regardless of the carnage feminism has created, hence the suggestion that logic be employed in determining whether or not to marry might therefore suggest an alternative more imagined than attainable.
What recommends "Women: Theory and Practice" is the authors relentlessly applied analytical skill and his considerable ability to extrapolate real world examples as illustration. As a result it is both a speedy and thought provoking read.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Dean, London
Format:Paperback
I read this book in the same week as Esther Vilar's "The manipulated man", written in the 1970s, and they form an interesting contrast. Both are compulsive reading - brilliantly written with wit, style, and real insight into the true balance of power between the sexes, which is very different from that depicted by the media and academia. However, the similarities between the two authors end there. Vilar argues persuasively that the stereoyped gender roles of both men and women need to change if genuine equality is to be achieved. What made her book so original and powerful was her insight that the real enemies of gender equality are not men, but middle class women who demand equality and empowerment but think somehow that this is compatible with the retention of traditional female privileges, such as being able to opt out of paid work, and having a man 'provide' for you financially and pay for dates. Real equality will be achieved, she argued, when it is as common for a woman to provide financial support to a man as vice versa.
It is far from clear whether Chapin would support such a reformist agenda, and for that reason his book probably has a narrower appeal. His opposition to radical feminism seems to be rooted in traditional small-c conservatism, and his book is a plea for gender equality based on a recognition that biological evolution has shaped men and women to have very different roles. Whilst there is some merit in these arguments - as a corrective to the myths propagated by radical feminism - it is less appealing as a vision of change than the agenda set out in Vilar's book. For example, at one point he states that few men would be willing to give up the "privilege" of going out to work and being the family breadwinner. To which I would respond "Why not?" Ironically, Chapin's attitude is a mirror image of the traditional feminist argument that women are oppressed because they occupy fewer middle and senior management positions in business. In fact it is simply perverse to regard paid employment as some kind of 'privilege'. Working for other people is first and foremost a burden - a big fat toad squatting on your life, as Philip Larkin once described it - which is precisely why we have to be paid to do it. Truly satisfying paid employment is the exception rather than the norm and always has been. To say that society is patriarchal because it pays men to work full time is - as Vilar points out - rather like saying a chauffeur is privileged because he gets to drive his employer's car. The vast majority of working men are cogs in this system, not its masters.
If you start from the faulty premise that work is a privilege, it is very easy to conclude - as feminists do - that men are the privileged sex, as they still dominate the management hierarchy in the world of work. But once you question the underlying premise, and acknowledge that working for an employer means for most people a life of drudgery, it becomes harder to see the majority of men as privileged and women as oppressed. What emerges is a more nuanced picture in which many people, of both sexes, are unhappy with their lot and the opportunities society affords them.
Vilar wanted to challenge the whole framework of gender-based assumptions which condemns men and women to narrowly defined social roles. But she rightly understood that many women have an (unacknowledged) vested interest in maintaining the existing system. Chapin's rallying cry seems to be a very different one, namely that men and women would find life a lot easier if they simply reverted to the traditional roles biology has assigned to them. The problem with this argument is that biology is not nearly so determinate - if it were, fewer men and women would be dissatisfied with their roles.
Both books are worth reading if you are looking for a powerful antidote to extreme, knee jerk feminism and political correctness, but IMHO Vilar's book offers a more liberating perspective.
It is far from clear whether Chapin would support such a reformist agenda, and for that reason his book probably has a narrower appeal. His opposition to radical feminism seems to be rooted in traditional small-c conservatism, and his book is a plea for gender equality based on a recognition that biological evolution has shaped men and women to have very different roles. Whilst there is some merit in these arguments - as a corrective to the myths propagated by radical feminism - it is less appealing as a vision of change than the agenda set out in Vilar's book. For example, at one point he states that few men would be willing to give up the "privilege" of going out to work and being the family breadwinner. To which I would respond "Why not?" Ironically, Chapin's attitude is a mirror image of the traditional feminist argument that women are oppressed because they occupy fewer middle and senior management positions in business. In fact it is simply perverse to regard paid employment as some kind of 'privilege'. Working for other people is first and foremost a burden - a big fat toad squatting on your life, as Philip Larkin once described it - which is precisely why we have to be paid to do it. Truly satisfying paid employment is the exception rather than the norm and always has been. To say that society is patriarchal because it pays men to work full time is - as Vilar points out - rather like saying a chauffeur is privileged because he gets to drive his employer's car. The vast majority of working men are cogs in this system, not its masters.
If you start from the faulty premise that work is a privilege, it is very easy to conclude - as feminists do - that men are the privileged sex, as they still dominate the management hierarchy in the world of work. But once you question the underlying premise, and acknowledge that working for an employer means for most people a life of drudgery, it becomes harder to see the majority of men as privileged and women as oppressed. What emerges is a more nuanced picture in which many people, of both sexes, are unhappy with their lot and the opportunities society affords them.
Vilar wanted to challenge the whole framework of gender-based assumptions which condemns men and women to narrowly defined social roles. But she rightly understood that many women have an (unacknowledged) vested interest in maintaining the existing system. Chapin's rallying cry seems to be a very different one, namely that men and women would find life a lot easier if they simply reverted to the traditional roles biology has assigned to them. The problem with this argument is that biology is not nearly so determinate - if it were, fewer men and women would be dissatisfied with their roles.
Both books are worth reading if you are looking for a powerful antidote to extreme, knee jerk feminism and political correctness, but IMHO Vilar's book offers a more liberating perspective.
27 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By NA Miles
Format:Paperback
With a mix of candor, wit, meticulous research and a refreshing amount of honesty and introspection, Bernard Chapin thoroughly exposes "feminism" in its modern, radical form. Unlike your local professor or TV news anchor, Chapin did his homework and learned from his experiences---both professional and personal---as well as extensive readings from those on the other side. His agenda is not to castigate nor demean women, but to present them, rightfully, as EQUALS. This is something not often done in today's politically correct world, where women are usually seen as superior and "fairer" beings by the mainstream intelligentsia, among many others. Bernard Chapin's book is a joy to devour, and it should be the hope of all of us that it is read by many scholars as its appeal stretches from sociology, electoral politics and history to psychology and your current work environment.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good voice
With the exception of a few instances, things flowed well and Bernard told good stories. A few parts needed some cleaning up with the help of maybe a staunch and critical editor,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by newscientist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, it is available as an e-book but not on Kindle
Great Book. I wish that it was available on Kindle, but I read it on Nook. If you have a Kindle Fire, you can look around the internet to see how to load the Nook app. Read more
Published 16 months ago by John F. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
I loved this book. I found I had difficulty getting into it, at first, but once you're in, you're surfing a wave of realistic criticism of society's female-biased, double... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Coldfire1k
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
If you enjoy, "Chapin's Inferno: A wandering cauldron of politically incorrect commentary" on youtube, you'll enjoy this book. Read more
Published on April 27, 2010 by Ninjaz1000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant yet uneven--still fascinating
The writing of Bernard Chapin, like that of Warren Farrell, and Dr. Herb Goldberg The Hazards of Being Male: Surviving the Myth of Masculine Privilege often stuns me with brilliant... Read more
Published on February 25, 2010 by M. Kasper
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't waste your time buying this
I thought maybe there would be something new or interesting here. I come from a centrist perspective on most of these types of subjects. Read more
Published on January 19, 2010 by John H. Faville
5.0 out of 5 stars
worth reading
This book is well written, logical and straight-forward. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is good to see so many of the thoughts that I have pondered written down and... Read more
Published on October 31, 2009 by J. Comiskey
5.0 out of 5 stars
The author knows what he's talking about
I can honestly say, Mr. Chapin is a very strong, noble and intelligent man. He is bold and has taken the initiative to inform women and men about how things are in our "modern"... Read more
Published on May 22, 2009 by Justice For Humanity
5.0 out of 5 stars
The personal has become political - A 21st century Male's survival...
According to Kant, writing over 200 years ago, to marry was to halve one's rights and to double one's duties. Read more
Published on August 14, 2008 by theantifeminist
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sincerity
This book is a must-read for any man considering marriage to a woman who spent her formative years in Western civilization. Read more
Published on July 9, 2008 by Mr. Ed
